Manufacturers add to receivership tally

The hammering being taken by UK manufacturing has been underlined by a string of receiverships, following last week’s failure of Belfast-based engineer Mackie International. Joining Mackie was Clifford Whatmough, a Manchester-based precision eyelets and metal pressings maker, and design and engineering group Solvera. Mackie International has a number of potential buyers, receiver Deloitte & Touche […]

The hammering being taken by UK manufacturing has been underlined by a string of receiverships, following last week’s failure of Belfast-based engineer Mackie International.

Joining Mackie was Clifford Whatmough, a Manchester-based precision eyelets and metal pressings maker, and design and engineering group Solvera.

Mackie International has a number of potential buyers, receiver Deloitte & Touche said. The company made textile machinery, electronic control systems and switchgear. Its most attractive asset is likely to be a £15m foundry, built in 1996.

Receiver Grant Thornton said Clifford Whatmough’s difficulties started when it bought a Birmingham eyelet maker, which offered its employees generous redundancy payments. Clifford Whatmough, which has 55 employees, could neither close the Birmingham factory or make it profitable.

Solvera, headquartered in London, went into administration on Monday. Its shares were suspended in January after management buyout talks failed. Begbies Traynor has been appointed receiver.

In the Midlands, meanwhile, receiver Robson Rhodes is trying to find a buyer for packaging products manufacturer Covpak. Its most recent turnover was £3.5m and the value of its plant, machinery and stock is put at £500,000.